Leite takes over the fourth quarter
Carla Leite scored 23 points in Phoenix. Fifteen of them arrived in the fourth quarter, and they turned a nine-point hole into an 88-85 win for the Portland Fire.
The Mercury led throughout the second half until Leite dropped in a layup for 81-80 with 1:53 on the clock. Emily Engstler followed with a reverse layup for 83-80 at 54.9 seconds. Kahleah Copper cut it back to a single point, then Phoenix coughed up the ball with 22.1 seconds left. Karlie Samuelson split a pair of free throws, Bridget Carleton swatted away a Copper drive and converted two more from the line with 9.7 seconds showing.
Alyssa Thomas stole the inbound and banked in her first three-pointer of the season for 86-85 with six seconds to play. Leite answered with two free throws. Sami Whitcomb’s tying attempt rimmed out.
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Phoenix run out of games
Thomas finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, one short of a third triple-double this season. DeWanna Bonner scored 23 and hit four three-pointers, Copper added 19 and Whitcomb 11. Phoenix played a second straight game without Kelsey Plum, who is nursing a left lower leg injury after arriving at the trade deadline.
The Mercury drop to 13-23 and their playoff hopes are now all but gone. The night was supposed to belong to Diana Taurasi, inducted into the club’s Ring of Honor at half-time. The WNBA’s career scoring leader won three titles in Phoenix and took Finals MVP twice.
An expansion team refusing to fold
Portland improve to 15-20 and have won four of their last five. That run has them chasing the eighth and final playoff berth, though Dallas still hold it by five games with the calendar closing in.
Megan DiLeo added 15 points and Engstler contributed nine points and seven rebounds. DiLeo and Frieda Buhner knocked down three three-pointers apiece. Leite also handed out five assists.
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